1 December 2017

From the Principal

Zoe Smith

Hello,

One week to go!

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and hear the Christmas carols being hummed around the school grounds! There is still a lot to do though.

Next week will see our Year 6 students graduate and prepare to move on to high school. On Wednesday night the Year 6 students and their parents will share in a special night to celebrate the end of primary school. This will be followed by a full school assembly on Thursday morning where we will officially farewell our Year 6 students. It is always a lovely assembly and I make sure I bring along a box of tissues as no matter how hard I try, I always end up with a tear in my eye!

Our final assembly will start with a special medal presentation for students who have achieved extremely high standards in the UNSW tests. We will then move on to the Student Leaders Badge Ceremony for our school leaders for 2018. The final part of our assembly is the farewell to our Year 6 students. You are welcome to come along to this assembly however it is a packed house so you need to get in early to get a seat, otherwise it is standing room only! The assembly starts at 9am and finishes at approximately 10am.

As you may be aware, we are moving to emailing report cards home this semester. We have been told it can take a few days for all 760 report cards to be received and so we will start the process on Monday or Tuesday so all parents can receive their child’s report card by Wednesday at the latest.

On Wednesday next week you will also receive a letter informing you of your child’s class teacher and classroom for 2018. The students will then meet their new teachers on Thursday afternoon.

We will send out a final newsletter next week with information that will help to start the new school year.

Have a great week,
Zoe Smith

Newsletter Articles

From the Deputy Principal

Lisa McKeaten

Updating Medical and other student details

As it is nearing the end of the school year it is a good time to update any personal details at the office, if anything has changed. It is also very important to update medications and Action Plans (if relevant) for any students. If your child has a medical condition which requires an Action Plan or specific medication, we will be contacting you shortly to update.

Sun Safety & Staying well hydrated

Just a reminder about Sun safety & keeping well hydrated. Please ensure that your children have sunscreen on before they leave home in the morning and are wearing their hats if they are in the sun coming to school e.g. walking. Try to encourage your children to take a water bottle with them and have it at school. We are expecting a hot summer and these good habits are important for long term wellbeing.

Money Matters

Anne Nixon

As we are nearing the end of the year, we would like to advise Parents’ that no payments of Student accounts will be accepted after Friday 1st December 2017. This includes Bpoint transactions.

Payment will re-open on Thursday 18th January 2018. Hours for payments for the 18th and 19th January will be 9am-12pm.

Various student resource scheme forms are being sent home with your students over the next couple of weeks. Can you please ensure they are all returned to the office asap.

VOLUNTARY PARENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Your valuable contribution to this school’s learning Targets are most welcomed.

$100 per student.

Request for Refund form for an excursion paid and not attended is available from the front office. Prepaid ticketed excursions are non-refundable. This also may include excursions where transport has been arranged. These are also non-refundable.

Payment of account days:

8am-3.00pm - Monday to Wednesday
8am-12pm - Thursday and Friday

BPoint is the preferred method of payment; Eftpos, Debit Cards: Visa/Mastercard, cheque or cash payments are accepted.

BPOINT User Information

Please ensure when paying via BPoint, that you log onto to the following website below. You must put the entire website address as this has the biller code.

For payment of multiple items on your statement/invoice, you will need to do a separate entry for each item, entering the invoice number and the corresponding payment amount for that item only e.g.

Separate Entries for each line must be done to ensure the payment is allocated to the correct Excursion/Resource Fee.

BPOINT payments must be processed in time to clear (usually 2-3 business days) before the Due Date for payment. If this is not done, your child might not be able to attend the activity.

Music News

Naomi Lindh

Thank you to students and families who have returned loaned instruments and books/photocopied music. It is very important to ensure your child has returned their instrument if they have loaned one from the school and returned all books and photocopies which conductors have given to them during the year. All lessons and rehearsals have now finished for this year. Students who are continuing in the instrumental music program should have received an orange Student Resource Scheme form on Friday. If your child has not received one please ask them to come to the music room to collect one. This only needs to be completed and returned this year but no payment needs to be made until term 1 next year. Please note, we have combined the previous levy with the cost of the 2 day instrumental music workshop so it is now a non-refundable payment of $80.

Music staff email contacts:

Alex Grodecki - agrod3@eq.edu.au
James Kukulies - jkuku2@eq.edu.au
Steve Stiller - sstil2@eq.edu.au
Julie West - jwest269@eq.edu.au
Naomi Lindh - nclos1@eq.edu.au

Thank you to our choir members and instrumental students for their commitment to the music program this year!

Naomi Lindh
Music Teacher and IM Coordinator

Chappy’s Chat

John Erichsen

Silver bells, silver bells, its Christmas time in the city…

I hope as the completion of the 2017 school year draws nigh, the spirit of Christmas fills your heart and home. It has been a very busy and hectic last term and many are weary and running on fumes. Perhaps, there is something in this season of festivity we can use to energise ourselves for the next few weeks. Even the process of selecting and sourcing gifts can be good for us. Focussing on someone else can be good for our soul. Caring and sharing is a strong theme at this time of the year and I hope you have opportunity to embrace this special part of Christmas.

As the school year ends and families prepare for the change that next year brings, it’s a time to reflect on the journey experienced this year. Students have learned much this year, with the learning assets a strong focus. Even in the playground, there is plenty of evidence of this new, exciting journey. For me, even more exciting than how far the students have travelled in their learning journey, is the foundation it is laying for a lifelong love of learning. Thank you for your important part in this voyage.

Last week’s presentation was a huge surprise for me and very touching. It has been an incredible privilege to partner with parents and staff to support the primary school experiences of students at Graceville State School for over 10 years. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in chaplaincy at GSS. I truly appreciate the wonderful support of the school community and look forward to many more years at Graceville.

Good luck to all students for the swimming carnivals this Friday and next Monday. I am positive there will be some impressive performances and strong competition between houses. May the best house win!

Have a wonderful week!

John Erichsen
(Chappy)

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop News

This is the last week of Tuckshop for 2017! Last day to order is Friday 1st of December. We will be open again next year on Monday the 29th of January 2018.

During our well-earned break we will be making changes to the Tuckshop menu. We make our final move towards the Queensland Government’s Smart choices healthy options menu so we will be deleting some items from our menu and adding some new ones. Look for our new menu in 2018! Enjoy your holidays!!

URGENTLY IN NEED OF HELP!

We are losing quite a few of our long standing regular Tuckshop volunteers and we need your help to keep our Tuckshop open for service five days a week. If you can help, please email us at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com to let us know when you are available.

It is only for once a month and from 8.30am -11.30am. Three hours of your time will keep prices reasonable and our shutters open! And you will be rewarded with the many smiling faces and good manners of our appreciative students!

Leaving the school? Don’t forget to close your School24 Account!

If you are leaving our school, please remember to close your School24 account. Any balance you have remaining on your account can be refunded if you supply your bank BSB and account number. Alternatively you can donate your balance to the P&C. Please let us know your wishes by emailing at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

To Register an Account:

Tuckshop is operated as an online ordering system. To open a Tuckshop account please visit the link below and use Graceville’s School Registration ID: 25314963

and follow the prompts. There is an information page and login guide on the Graceville State School website, under P&C and the Tuckshop, if you need any help.

If you have any questions or concerns, please see us at the Tuckshop or drop us an email at tuckshop.gss@gmail.com

Uniform Shop

Fiona Fryer

Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8.15am to 9.00am.

The uniform store will be open for business as usual in the final week of school and we have small and medium size art smocks and the chairbags in stock.

Prep selling day:

16th January 2018 3-6pm

Donations of 2nd hand uniforms are always appreciated, if you have some smaller sizes that you no longer need we would love to have them.

Size 8 gold polo shirts and backpacks are back in stock.

Swimming gear is available including long sleeve rashies, lycra and silicone swim caps, swim bags and quick dry towels in the house colours.

Band folders are available for $15.

Order forms are available on the school website and can be emailed to the uniform shop at the below address, the items will be sent to the classroom.

Email address for school uniform store is:

uniformstore@gracevilss.eq.edu.au

New volunteers would be greatly appreciated and will be needed as some of the current volunteers will be leaving the school at the end of the year. It only requires you to be there from 8.15-9.00am on Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays, if you think you could help out please send an email to the above address or just come to the store and have a chat.

I have 4 plain navy blue backpacks for $55 each in stock that are perfect for high school, if you are needing something like this come and see me in store or send an email to the above address.

Creative Generation

Nominations are open for students who will be in Year 3-6 next year. If your child has shown an interest they may have come home with a note already. Please see Parent note attached to be downloaded. All nominations must be in by Wednesday 6th December. No late nominations can be accepted.

Thanks Amanda

Swimming

Holiday Swim Clinics

A great way to finish the 4th term swim program is to join the holiday swim clinics being held at the school pool. All ability levels are catered for with learn to swim, stroke correction and squad classes on offer. The first clinic will be held from Monday 11th of December to Friday 15th. The second clinic will be held the last week of the school holidays from Monday 15th of January til Friday the 19th. You do not need to attend every day of the clinic as long as you mention your availability when enrolling. If you are joining for the first time please call Pete to discuss your child's ability and needs. Children in holiday school care may also join the program as staff are able to bring students to the pool and pick them up after their lesson. My swim school is always looking for good teachers so if you know anyone who is qualified or interested in becoming a certified swim teacher please put them in touch with me. Please direct all inquiries to Pete Geraghty by phone [0432407442].

Community Notices

School Holiday Workshops for Brisbane Kids!

Need something fun and creative for kids these holidays? Come along and have a go of one of our crafty, drama and musical theatre workshops!

Speak Up Studio is excited to announce our upcoming Christmas and January workshops for Brisbane Kids! Speak Up workshops focus on a range of creative areas, such as musical theatre, drama, art and craft, filmmaking and science.

With workshop themes in Pokemon, unicorns, Harry Potter, Star Was, Roald Dahl, Dr Seuss and much much more there is sure to be something for everyone!

For more information or to register visit the website or call our friendly admin staff!

Email: info@speakupstudio.com.au
Phone: (07) 3367 8572

Lauren Huxley
Events Coordinator

For Sale:

½ size Arco Cello for Sale
Excellent condition
$400 includes hard and soft case
Call Renee 0413 041 968